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International School

1 October 2005, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Shirin Akter Baridhara, Dhaka
1 October 2005, 18:00 PM
I would like to draw your attention to International School Dhaka (ISD). The purpose of building this school was to provide children with a sound education, a broad perspective on life, the chance to participate in a wide range of extra curricular activities, to be able to think laterally and positively, and to become pro-active rather than reactive. The aim being, that at the end of their tenure they would become good upright citizens armed with the International Baccalaureate qualification, which would stand them in a good stead in the job market. There is a team of dedicated and hard working expatriate and local staff and most of the time I would say they are doing an excellent job. Certainly, it is a groundbreaking school and it has offered Bangladeshi children a form of education that they would not get anywhere else in Bangladesh, though at a hefty price to the parents' pockets.

Being a ground breaking school ISD was in a good position to set an example of how we can have good cross cultural links, how we can learn from each other and above all promote a smooth and harmonious environment free from prejudice and discrimination.

But it is not free from prejudice and discrimination. It is quite clearly written in the School's Mission statement that it will not allow any form of religious symbols in the school, on the children' uniform and on the clothes that teachers wear. This includes religious crosses for Christians, skull caps for Jewish children and most notably the banning of headscarves for female students and staff alike.

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The school states that it has a secular view but many Western schools also have a secular view but that does not mean they prevent children dressing modestly if their faith dictates that. Students in ISD are also not allowed to fast during Ramadan, but the school took a break for Easter (Christian holiday) and also had decorations up during Christmas. Hardly a secular view is it?

This school has a wonderful opportunity to promote such tolerance and if anything, be a shining beckon to others around it. If the school stands for the ideal of making children think for themselves, as it states it does, then it should allow them to have the option to know about other faiths and make an informed choice. The choice to think should not be taken away from them.